OCR Text |
Show 1885.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA OF JAPAN. 737 the middle, the sides very slightly rounded, posterior margin at each side, its median lobe broadly rounded, surface extremely finely punctured, only visible under a very strong lens ; a row of punctures is also placed along the posterior margin. Elytra convex, rather strongly punctured, the punctuation arranged in rather distant rows, which at the disk approach in pairs ; between the last row and the lateral margin is a broad impunctate space ; prosternum narrowly elongate; posterior thighs with an obsolete longitudinal sulcation. Nikko. A single specimen. Closely allied to S.fuseicornis, Baly, but separated by the entirely fulvous antennae, the much more finely punctured thorax, and the much stronger and more distant punctuation of the elytra. SPH^RODERMA NIGRICOLLIS, sp. nov. Oblong-ovate; fulvous, apical joints of the antenna? and the tibiae piceous ; thorax black, margined with fulvous, finely punctured ; elytra regularly punctate-striate. Length lg line. Head impunctate, obscure dark fulvous ; the frontal tubercles obsolete but limited laterally by a distinct groove ; labrum piceous, margined with testaceous, the maxillary palpi entirely of the latter colour. Antennae half the length of the body, the first four joints fulvous, the rest black, third and fourth joints short and equal, the second rather longer and thickened. Thorax widened at the middle, the lateral margin slightly rounded, the sides narrowly margined, the anterior angles oblique, the posterior margin distinctly sinuate at each side near the scutellum ; surface extremely finely but not very closely punctured, black, the sides and the anterior margin narrowly fulvous. Elytra slightly wider than the thorax, the shoulders somewhat thickened and prominent, finely, regularly, and rather remotely punctate-striate, fulvous, the punctures surrounded by a small piceous ring. The posterior femora and the apices of all the tibia? piceous, the rest and the underside fulvous, the sides of the breast also more or less piceous. Yuyama, Konose (2 specimens). The colour of the thorax, in connection with the regularly punctate-striate elytra, separates this species principally from its allies. SPH^ERODERMA JAPANA, Baly, var. In comparing the three specimens obtained by Mr. Lewis at Jensai with the type of S. japana, I have no doubt as to their identity with this species, although the colour is different, proving the species, which was described from a single specimen, to be variable in this respect. The specimens before me from Jensai are fulvous, with the exception of the elytra, which are piceous, the sutural and lateral margin remaining only narrowly fulvous; the legs and antennae are entirely of this colour. In shape, sculpture, and every other character there is no difference to be found. |